Musical instrument



J. S. MAXWELL.

MU$ICAL INSTRUMENT. APPHCATION FILED nc.2o. 1917.

L 2. 9 E mm is rT m H d 5 w H m D J. S. MAXWELL.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. APPLICATION FILED 050.20. I917.

1 937 1,636u Patent d M 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J3 J4- a J6 7 57 S I NVENTOR mzms i Patented Mar. 15, 1921,

J. S. MAXWELL.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20, 1917.

Fig-.91.

J. S. MAXWELL.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED 050.20.1917.

s suns-sneer 4.

Patented Mar. 15,

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INVENTOH I a ATTOBN 1.8. MAXWELL.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.20, I917.

Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

51SIIEETSSHE ET 5.

INVENTOR- SAM Arm 4 41 0 729M I y, ATTORNEY NORRIS PETERS. INC. LITNQ. WlSHINSTON. D C

Phi-EN? @FEEQE.

STARR PIANO COMPANY,

or RICHMOND, INDIANA, A conrona'rron or INDIANA.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed Bee-ember '1 W r v nlamvmm, a

L w type oi playing mechanism having two trackers and means for ring a noteeet s forward and backward over each tracker, the constrr tion being such as to enable me to maintain the playing instrument in con tinuous operation and at the some time selectively operate one note-sheet in either direction wliile the other is being played. This means that the notesheets not only capable of being moved simultaneously in the opposite directions but capable of being moved simultaneous i i i the same direction or alone in either direction; ii device capable of accomplishing these results obviously requires certain improved mechanism dithering substantially in purpose and function from known devices and it has been my object not only to devise a construction capable or" performing' additional functions and therefore producing new results but to simplify the mec r m for actuating the various operating -strumentalities or the playing mechanism. F or the purpose or ope .nnz these instrun'ientalitie. I emplov two motors. preferably of "he pneumatic type, one wl on with o'earinii bi" other connecting means to draw one hole-sheet forward and bilClZhllL'u over its tracker and the other which is adapted to draw a second not s ward and backward over its tracker gearing or conn ctions to one motor operatins independently of the gearing or con necting means ot the other motor. lac gearing or connectin means is provided with individually and manually operated means whose movement serves to reverse the direction of movement of the note-sheet; that is to say, the manipulation of these manual means enables the note-sheets to be moved forward for playing or backward for rewinding. In connection with these two Specification of Bette blocl;

fatent.

Patented Mar. 15, 1821. Serial No. 208,058.

manually operating means I employ a third manually operated device which not only serves to connect the tracker over which the note-sheet is being crawn for playing to the operating pneumatics of the instrument, but also actuates val e mechanism whereby the motor which is coupled to draw the notesheet forward for playing is connected to the wind chest so as to be controlled by the tempo valve, and whereby the other motor, which may operate its notesheet in either direction is connected directly with the wind chest.

53. further object of my invention is to improve and simplify the pneumatic connections or mechanism between the motors and the wind chest. These improvements have resulted from the novel form or" switch which I have devised the passages therein being such as not only to enable the passages from the wind chest and tempo valve to be connected directly to. it, but onabln either the wind chest or the tempo valve to be connected will with either motor and at the same time only requiring a single valve, which is common to the two motors. for starting and stopping the motor which actuates the note-sheet not being played. This valve is preferably located in the passage which connects the valve block lirectly to the wind chest.

lay invention further consists in improvements in the switching mechanism which enables the operating pneumatics to be connected to one or the other of the tracker bars. This part of the inve tion comprises s provided with passages there through .1011 opcratively connect the tracker. with the operating pneuinatics of the instrument, one of the said members being movable relative to the other and when in one position one tracker bar is cut off from the operating pneumatics and when in another position the other tracker is cut off from said opcratii pneumatics. The important feature of this switching mecha nism that it is composed of only two parts and is in the nature of a slide valve. This not only reduces the wear and the number of parts to a minimum. but also greatly facilitates its operation. This also reduces not only the initial cost but also the cost or" operation and maintenance.

Further objects and advantages of my rolls and the detail mechanism for variously operating these spools and rolls. 7

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. V

Fig. 1- is an enlarged end view of the operative mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the switch box in the end of the case.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the switch box. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the switch block.

Figs. 8 and. 9 show the two members of the switch block separated from each other, the perforations being correspondingly lettered to explain the manner in which they connect.

Fig. 10 is a transverse section of the switching mechanism on the line 10-10 of Fig. 7 illustrating the position the two members thereof assume when the passages therein are registered to establishcommunication between the upper tracker and the operating pneumatics of the instrument.

Fig. 11 is a similar section of the members taken on the line 1111 of Fig. 7

r Fig, 12 is a tranverse section of the switching mechanism taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 7 after the members have been moved relatively to each other sothat the passages therein establish communica tion between the lower tracker and the operating pneumatics of the instrument. I

Fig. 13 is a section similar to Fig. 12 taken on the line 1111 after the members have been moved relatively to each other.

Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section of the valve box illustrating one form of valve which I may employ to close the passage which leads directly from the switch box to the wind chest. This valve enables me at will to stop "or start the motor which movesthe notesheet not being played.

'Fig. .15 illustrates the manually operated mechanism employed to connect the respective tracker barswith the operating pneumatics of the instrument. This manually operated mechanism is also employed to connect the motor, which draws its notesheet forward for playing, with the tempo valve, and to connect the other motor directly with the wind chest.

Fig. 16 illustrates the manually operated mechanism which I employ to control the tempo valve and the tempo indicating means.

Fig. 17. illustrates the manually operated mechanism which I employ to operate the valve which serves to stop and start the motor which draws its note-sheet-forward or backward for selecting thereon or for rewinding. Q

' In detail the reference numeral 10 (see Fig. 1) designates a conventional form of player piano provided with a spool box 11, which contains, among other things, the music rolls 12 and 13, the take-up rolls 14 and 15, the two trackers 16 and 17 and the upper and lower note sheets 18 and 19.

The music roll 12 is provided with an operating shaft 20 which has hearings in the sides'of the spool box andin the upright 21 which is fixed to the spool box '11 preferably by means of a plurality of posts 22. This shaft 20 is provided with a friction wheel 23 (see Figs. 2, 3 and 1) and a sprocket wheel 24;, both of which are fixed to rotate therewith. The sprocket 24s is connected by means of a chain 25 (see Figs.2 and 1) to a second sprocket 26 loosely mounted upon a laterally movable shaft 27 which is connected by means of a sprocket 28 thereon, a sprocket chain 29, and a'second sprocket 30, to the shaft 31 of a horizontally arranged pneumatic motor 32. (See Figs. 1, 2 and 4.) The take-up roll 14. is provided with a shaft 33 upon which is fixed a gear 34: adapted to mesh with a pinion 35 when the latter is moved to the left upon its shaft 27 to which it is connected to rotate in unison therewith. This pinion 35 is provided with a grooved collar 36. (See Fig. 2.) .A lever 37 pivotally supported at 38 upon the arm 39 is m vided with a laterally projecting pin or stud 40 upon the upper end thereof which engages in the groove of the collar 36 and serves to move the pinion 35 laterally upon its shaft 27. To the lower end of the lever 37 is pivoted one end of a link 11, the other end of this link being pivotally connected to the control lever A. The pinion 35'and gear wheel 26 are each provided with a laterally projecting pin 4:2 and 13 respectively, the former being adapted to engage the latter so as to enable said gear wheel to be driven from said pinion-- In the. position illustrated in Figs. land 2 the mechanism. just described is in condition for rerolling the upper note-sheet, If,

therefore, the motor is put into operation,

its shaft 31, (see Fig. 1) together with the sprocket 30 fixed thereto, will, through the sprocket chain 29, impart a rotary motion to the sprocket 28, shaft 27 and pinion 35; and inasmuch as the laterally projecting pin 43 of the sprocket 26 is now in the path of pin 42 on pinion 35 a rotary movement in the same direction will be imparted to the said gear wheel 26. This movement is, in turn, imparted to the music roll 12 through the sprocket chain 25 and sprocket 24. If, however, the control lever A be moved to the position of play the pinion 35 will be caused to engage the gear 34; fixed upon the take-up roll it and thus rotate the shaft 33 and feed the note sheet 18 across the tracker bar 16. T will describe later on the mechanism which I employ to maintain the upper note-sheet in any position while playing on the lower note-sheet and vice versa.

Reference has been previously made to a friction wheel 23. This wheel, during the playing of the instrument is engaged by a spring-pressed friction member 4A (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4), but while the note-sheet is being rewound this friction member is disengaged from the friction wheel by means of the connection between the pivoted arm 3'? and friction member this connection comprising fixed arm 45 on the pivoted arm 37, and a link 4-6 directly con nected to said friction member e l.

A spring-pressed friction member l-T is adapted to engage the face of the gear 3% during the rewinding of the note sheet upon the'music roll. Both of the friction devices, just referred to, are employed for the purpose of avoiding the existence of any slack in the note-sheet between the music roll and the take-up roll.

The .instrumentalities for operating the lower note-sheet, both for playing and rewinding cor esponds to and are substan tially identical with those employed for playing and rewinding the upper note-sheet; it is therefore unnecessary to describe the same but for convenience l have designated the part corresponding to the control lever A by the reference letter B. It may be stated, however, that the m i=hanism operating the lower note-sheet is in position for playing.

From the foregoing it will be clear that the playing can be switched from one notesheet to another at will without any ap pr ciable loss of time by manipulating the control levers iand B. It will also be noted that the motor and other operating instrumentalities for drawing the upper notesheet over its tracker are independent of the lower motor and its connections for drawing the lower note-sheet over its tracker.

Journaled in the two brackets 48, e9 (see Figs. 3 and 15) is a shaft 50 (see Figs. 1, 2

3, and 15), upon which is rigidly mounted arm 51 connected by a link 52 to manipulating lever 53 pivoted at 5% to a bracket or other support 55. (See Figs. 3 and 15.) Upon one end of this shaft is rigidly mounted a second arm 56, the outer end of which is connected to one end of an adjustable link 57, the other end of said link being connected to one arm of a bell crank lever 58 pivoted at 59 to some convenient part of the piano. The other arm of the bell crank lever is operatively connected to a vertically arranged rod-or link 60. This arm is in turn connected by means of an adjustable arm or strap 61 to a rod or link 62, (Figs. 5 and 6) one end of which is adjustably connected to the l) or slide valve 63 and the other end of which is similarly connected to a E3 or slide valve (ll of the valve block 65, which is common to the two motors. llhen the controlling lever is in its lowermost position, as illustra ed in the drawings. the valves 63 and 6- will likewise be in their lowermost positions. This connects the lower motor, through the valve block 65, to the wind chest through the tempo valve and enables said motor to draw the lower note-sheetforward at a governed speed for playing. Sit the same time the upper motor is directly connected to the wind chest which enables me, through certain mechanism yet to be described, to select in either direction upon the upper notcsheet. ll hen the lever 53 is in its upper position the valves 63 and will likewise be in their upper positions. The connections of the motors with the wind chest. together with the movements of the note-sheets, will therefore be reversed. It may be stated at this point tha the upward or downward movement of tie lever connects the operating pneuniatits with the tracker bar over which the note-sheet is being drawn for playing.

T reference numeral 66 designates 2. wind chest'and the numeral designates the gov rning box in which is arranged a tempo controlling valve not shown. This valve is operated by means of links 68 and 69 connected to one arm of a pivoted bell crank lever T0. The manipulating handle 71 is connected to the other arm of the bellcrank lever by means of the link 72, strap 73, link and lever 75. The link Tl is also connected through lever 6 and arm T? to the link 78 on which is mounted the usual indicator The movement of the manipulating handle Tl to adjust the tempo valve is so related to the parts justdescribed as to impart a corresponding movement to the indicator 79.

Also conveniently located for manipulation and arranged adjacent to the tempo control handle is a finger piece 80 connected by lever 81, link 82, pivoted arm 83 and links 84 and 85 to a valve 86, which is slidably arranged in the casing 87 and adapted to control the starting and stopping of the motors as will more fully appear below.

The upper motor 32 is connected to the opening 90 in the valve block 65 by means ire tor is connected to the onenin 92 b means n C) of a similar tubular member 93. This valve block isrprovide'd. with transverse passages 91 and a ated to coinn unicate with the upper motor and similar passzrges 96 and 97 adapted to communicatewith the lowermotor; There is also provided in the valve block two vert cal or longitudinal passages 98 and 99, and in the slide valve 63 and 61 are respectively provided passages 100 and 101. Connecting the transverse passage 95 is a tubular member 102 leading to the governing box 6', which is connected by the pipe 103 to the wind chest 06, and connecting the transverse passage 97 is a tubular member 101 leading to the control ho S7. A. tube 105 connects the co irol box with the wind chest 66. when the i3 valves are in the position illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 the upper transverse passage 9s leadino' directly to the upper motor is cutoil from communicating directly with the pipe 102 leaning to the governing box. Communication, however, is established between the upper motor and the wind chest-60 through passages 9 1-, 100, 99, 97, 10 1, control box 87 and tubular member 105. in this position of the parts with the instrument playing on the low r note-sheet it will be clear that by the manipulation ot the hand e A the upper note-sheet may be moved forwardly or backwardlv over its tracker thereby enabling the operator to select upon the apps roll in either cirection. The preceding remarks are made upon the assumption that the valve S6 is in position to establish i ree communication between the pipe 10% leading to the box 37 and tne pipe 105 leadino' from the box 87 tothe wind chest 66. 1r however 7 7 there is no such communication, that is to say, it the valve 86 is closed, the motor will not be in operative relation with the wind chest and of course there will be no move nent of the upper note-sheet in either direction, but it will be plainly understood that it, at any time during the playing of the lower note sheet, it is desired to effect a movement the upper note-sheet in either direction. this is accomplished by the handles A and S0. The speed of movement or the upper note-sheet is proportional to the amount the valve 86 is opened. in this same position the various parts the lower transverse passage 96 leading to the lower motor is in directcommunication with the governing box 67 through passages 1 11, 98, 95, and tubular member 102.

1f the handle is thrown upwardly to the position marked Top, the instrument is enabled. to play the upper note-sheet and select in either direction upon the lower notesheet. In order to avoid prolinity of descriptiom lwill not describe in detail the connections in this case between the'motors and the wind chest, as that; will be clear from the drawings in connection with the above description.

it now remains to describe the switching mechanism which controls the connection of the trackers with the operating instrumentalities ot the instrument. The numerals 125 and 126 designate the tubes extend ing from the apertures in the upper tracker and 127 and 128 designate the tubes leading to the lower tracker. These tubes are connected to a member 129 illustrated in detail in Figs. T to 13 incisive.

' i 129 are also the tubes 130 and 131 o the pneumatics ofthe instrument.

dr g t [the inemb r 129 is provided with five rows of lateral passage openings connected to said tuhes namely, L, M. N, O, and P. Coopting with the member 129 is a laterally able slide valve or member 132 provided 1 corresponding rows or" lateral passage L, M, N, O, and P. These -al passage openings in the members are ed to register with each other and the v the spring pressed straps 133 as clearly llustrated in Figs. 7 and 10. Figs. 10 and are sections taken on the lines 10-10 aid 11 -11 respectively of Fig. 7 and clearly illustrate the manner in which communication is established between the lower tracker bar and the pipes 130 and 131 which lead to the pneumatics of the instrument. From these two figures it will be clear, when the slide valve is in position to play upon the lower note sheet all of the openings .L reg ister with the openings L, all the openings ter with the openings ll and all the is 'N register with the openings N. its. 12 and 13 illustrate sections taken on substantially the same lines as Figs. 10and 11 but after the slide valve has been moved a distance to bring one vertical row of openings in the slide valve in registration with the succeeding row in the block. This establishes communication between the pipes 130 and 131 and'the pipes 125 and 126 which lead to the upper tracker. In this position it will be seen that all oi the openings L register with the openings L, all the openings O register with the openings 0, and all the openings P register with the open ings P.

Upon the rear end of the shaft 50 there is provided an arm 134 having a pin 135 which Connected to this iembcr 132 is held against the member 129 tively to each other to connect the lower tracker bar with the operating pneumatics of the instrument.

I make no claim herein to the construction of the motor per 86 or to the operating pneumatics of the instrument, each of which may be of the usual form. In fact the motor is represented in the drawings in a diagrammatic way only, and to avoid confusion I have omitted the operating pneumatics entirely. Furthermore many of the other elements which go to make up the combinations defined by the claims are illustrated only in a diagrammatic way.

I claim 1. In a musical instrument, the combination of two trackers, means comprising a pneumatic motor for drawing a note-sheet over the first tracker, means comprising a second pneumatic motor for drawing a notesheet over the second tracker, means for causing either note-sheet to run forward or backward at will while the other note-sheet is being played, a wind chest, a tempo valve, and means for operatively connecting either of said motors to said wind chest through said tempo valve.

2. A musical instrument comprising, in combination, two trackers, means comprising two motors for drawing note sheets over said trackers in the same or opposite directions at will, a plurality of devices for tensioning said note-sheets when said sheets are moving in one direction, and means for antomatically rendering each of said tensioning devices inefl'ective whenever its corresponding note-sheet is moving in the opposite direction.

3. A musical instrument comprising, in combination, a plurality of sets of notesheet rolls, each set comprising a winding roll and a rewinding roll, means for operating one of said winding rolls in a predetermined direction to play the corresponding note-sheet. means for concurrently operating another of said Winding rolls in the same direction, and means for imposing a drag on said winding rolls only when mov ing in the direction opposite to said predetermined direction.

4:. A musical instrument comprising, in combination, two trackers, power means for drawing a note sheet over one of said trackers, power means for concurrently drawing a note-sheet over the other of said trackers, a control element, and means for starting and stopping either of said power means by operation of said control element.

5. A musical instrument comprising, in combination, two trackers, a pneumatic motor for drawing a note-sheet over one of said trackers, a second pneumatic motor for drawing a note sheet over the other of said trackers, a control valve, a tempo control valve, a wind chest, and means for selectively connecting either of said motors to said wind chest through one of said valves and the other of said motors to said windchest through the other of said valves.

6. A musical instrument comprising two trackers, pneumatic means for drawing a note sheet over each tracker, in combination with means actuated by said pneumatic means for drawing said note sheets forward or backward over said trackers, and means comprising a single valve common to both note sheets for starting and stopping one note sheet at any point while the other is being played.

7. In a musical instrument the combination of two trackers, a pneumatic motor for drawing a note sheet over the first tracker, a pneumatic motor for drawing a note sheet over the second tracker, gearings whereby the motors are connected to draw their note sheets simultaneously in the same or in opposite directions over their trackers, controlling means connected to said gearing for reversing the direction of movement of one or both note-sheets, and means common to both note sheets for starting and stopping at any point the note sheet not being played.

8, A musical instrument, comprising two trackers, pneumatic means for drawing a note sheet over each of said trackers, in combination with means actuated by the pneu-' matic means for drawing said note sheet forward or backward over said trackers, in combination with means comprising a single valve common to both note sheets for arresting the movement of either of said note sheets while the other is being played.

9. A musical instrument, comprising two trackers, pneumatic means for drawing a note sheet backward or forward over each of said trackers, manual means for reversing the forward or backward movement of the second note-sheet, means for connecting the operating pneumatics with either tracker bar, and means common to both note sheets for arresting the movement of one note-sheet while the other is being played.

10. A musical instrument for playing upon a plurality of note-sheets and for operating in either direction or for stopping the note-sheet not being played comprising two tracker bars, means for drawing said note-sheets forward and backward over said bars, manual means for reversing the direction of movement of the first note-sheet, and similar but independent means for reversing the direction of movement of the second note-sheet, in combination with means for arresting the movement over the tracker bar of the note sheet not being played.

11. A musical instrument for playing upon a plurality of note sheets and for operating in either direction or for stopping the note sheet not being played, comprising two tracker bars, motor means for drawing the first note-sheet forward or backward over 1ts related tracker bar, motor means for drawlng the second notesheet forward or backward over its related tracker be",

manual means for reversing t 1e direction of movement of the first note-sheet, similar but independent means for reversing the direction of movement of the second notesheet, in combination with means common to the twovnote sheets iorstopping the 0 eration of either of said motor means.

12. A musical instrument for playing upon a plurality of note-sheets comprising two tracker bars, motor means for drawing thelirst note-sheet forward or backward over its related tracker bar 'motor means for drawing the second notesheet forward or backward over its related tracker manual means for reversing the direction of movement or the first note-sheet, similar but independent means for reversing the direction of movement of the second notesheet, in combination with means for connecting either tracker bar withthe operating pneumatics of the instrument, and means for arresting the movement of one ofsaid motor means while the note-sheet, operated bythe other, is being played.

'13. Amusical instrument comprising in combination two'trackers, a pneumatic motor for drawing a note sheet over the first tracker, apneumatic motor for drawing a'note sheet over the second tracker, gearing independently connected to each of said motors whereby each note sheet maybe moved backwardly or forwardly independently of the'other, and manually controlled means for selectively operating either note 7 sheet in either direction while the other is tion of two trackers, a pneumatic motor for drawing a note-sheet over the first tracker, a pneumatic motorfor drawing a note-sheet over the second tracker, gearing whereby each motorcan be coupledto draw its note sheet either forward or backwardover its tracker, aswltch block connected to each motor,a wind chest, atempo valve, a passage extending from the wind chest directly to said switch block, and means on said switch block, for connecting each of sa1d trackers,

passages simultaneouslywith each of said motors, and a'valve interposed in the second *ntioned passage to stop the motor with which said passage is connected.

V G. in'a musicalinstrument, t ie combination or" trackers, a pneumatic motor for drawing a note-sheet over the first tracker, a pneumatic motor for drawing a note-sheet over the second tracker, a switch block provided with passages therein and connected t ach of said motors, wind chest, a tempo me, a passage extending trom'the tempo re to said switch block, and a passage ding cm the wind chest to switch means cooperating with the passages switch block for simultaneously contting one of said motors with the tempo e and the other with sa' 1 wind chest and ce versa, and a valve interposed in saide leading from the switch block to wi d chest to start or stop the motor which said last mentioned passage is the combinawing verthe first ti cker, a pneumatic motor for tire on a note-sheet ,v over the second tracker, gearing whereby either motor can be coupled to draw its -te-sl1eet forward or backward over its independently of the other motor, tempo valve, and passages n the tempo valve to said mofrom the wind motors, means includk valve meal snrwhereby the motor nhich is coupled to draw the note-sheet forr, d over its tracker will be connected to is w "hest so as to be controlled by the m valve and so that the motor which is a, cted to draw the note-sheet backward over its related tracker will be connected directly to the wind chest, a switching mechanismfor connecting the tracker over nhich the note sheet is drawn forward for setting said gearings, ad usting said valves ano setting said swltching mechanism.

18. A musical instrument comprising, in mbination, two trackers, a pneumatic 1110- tor for drawing a note sheet over one or" said track rs, a nd pneumatic motor for drawing a note-sheet over the other of said through the other of said valves, and switchmg mechanism for operatively connecting the tracker whose motor is connected with operate the instrument.

In testimony whereof I hereunto am); my

signature, 7

Jenn s. MAXWELL,

, ne matic motor for a control valve, tempo control:

p v M I the wind chest through the tempo Valve tov 

